u/itsnotnothing

I’m a crocheter and I recently decided to learn to knit. Im making the Florence Mills step by step sweater and I’m using 4.5 mm hooks with 40cm cord like the pattern calls for. In her video it seems like her needles are shorter and she’s able to join in a round without magic loop. It’s my first time using magic loop and there’s this huge gap in the join that doesn’t tighten when I pull on it or continue knitting. I did do the long tail cast on, is there something I can do or do I need to bite the bullet and buy shorter needles ):